For many generations, there has been a spirited debate about the importance of sports in academics.
For many generations, there has been a spirited debate about the importance of sports in academics. Several learning institutions exist to the isolation of sports. A common argument is that primary objective of an educational institution is to deliver academic results and not have its students while away time playing sports.
Yuki Bhambri's recent success in international tennis seems to suggest otherwise. This young, lanky Grade XI, 16-year-old has proved himself to be a real-time role model for school goers.
Relatively unknown in the international sports arena, Yuki's walking away with the Grand Slam title is no mean feat. Creating history of sorts by becoming the first Indian to win the Australian Open Junior singles title, he proved that determination, dedication and grit can change the course of the wind's direction.
Sports are an important part of just about every society, every country, every part of our planet. In one way or another, everyone is connected to sports. Often, it is considered a family activity or a community building exercise. A friendly soccer match on a Sunday morning or a baseball match in a neighbourhood community centre can prove to be quite entertaining while offering opportunities for a picnic on a holiday or weekend.
Besides the family time, the values taught by sports are immense; learning to loose a game is a skill that will stand one in good stead for a life time. It teaches one to bounce back after a defeat, to stand up after a fall and to fight back. This is an essential lesson for leading a successful life.
The lessons of team work, putting the team before self are also learnt, since playing for a team is beyond a personal accomplishment. Besides, sports also helps in developing a healthy and positive sense of competition. This sense of fair play and teamwork is a much needed attribute in many corporate boardrooms.
Most importantly, it teaches the discipline of practice; the habit of single minded determination, the tenacity to score a point or a goal that is instilled through a game is often the single most important habit that is necessary to accomplish excellence in any career be it in the business or professional world.
In order to achieve No 2 world ranking, it must have taken Yuki who started practicing at the age of 6, at least thousands of hours of thorough practice. Researchers have settled on what maybe called the 10,000 hour rule that suggests that for true excellence and expertise a player has to practice for ten thousand hours or ten years. It maybe called the ten thousand hours to greatness.
Besides diligent training, Yuki has trained against odds, in a country that has neither sophisticated world class sports infrastructure nor international quality coaches; he has demonstrated the advantage of playing from a "slumdog" position.
One of India's aims is to dominate the global sports arena, some of those ambitions maybe realised if sports are giving equal weightage at schools and at institutions of higher learning. Not withstanding its inherent values, sports has finally come of age and now offers attractive career options; with endorsements and a glamour status that comes close to Bollywood.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}